Blood is Thicker than Vodka

From the cold, lonely streets of 1970s Britain to the sun-soaked opulence of Malibu in the 1980s, Janine's life is fraught with dangerous exploits-outrunning the law, sordid relationships, and a drive to self-destruct. Abused and neglected by her once socialite parents, Janine's material possessions are replaced by alcohol, and the life she once knew becomes a distant memory. Manipulative, envious, and cruel, her mother is a drunken nightmare and Janine's desperation to get away only leads her down an even darker path.Decades later, their own relationship fractured by the blows of addiction, Janine and her daughter Katie struggle to reconnect as they work on this memoir. Traveling through her mother's tumultuous childhood, Katie witnesses how it all began, and Janine realizes that she was simply struggling to survive. Together, they find the bridge that leads them back into each other's hearts. This book is a testament that forgiveness is powerful, and every relationship has the potential for salvation.This book perfectly encompasses the true story of a remarkable woman who transforms from a struggling/hopeless alcoholic to the most genuine, open, and honest individual who has not only helped hundreds of clients in treatment, but also inspired numerous colleagues alike. Janine has played an integral part of my passion to specialize in addiction in my private practice. In this book and in her day-to-day life, her honest vulnerability is so contagious that I personally strive to conform with her magnitude of transparency and veracity. -Allie Levy-Akoka, M.S. LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist